PETALING JAYA: The Asia-Pacific winners of the Defender Trophy are Charles Murray from New Zealand and Ron Ng from Singapore.
The winners were named after two days of intense regional qualification rounds held in the mountainous terrain of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Selected from a field of 24 competitors representing Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, the pair will now progress to the Defender Trophy Global Final in Africa later this year.
There, they will join other regional finalists from around the world in an epic adventure challenge hosted in partnership with Defender’s long-standing conservation partner, Tusk.
Set against the rugged mountains of southern Taiwan, the Asia-Pacific qualification rounds were designed to test intellectual agility, endurance and teamwork.
Competitors navigated a series of vehicle-based, adventure and physical challenges.
Driving stages required careful line selection and technical vehicle control through tight obstacle courses under time pressure, while adventure tasks saw teams collaborate to transport heavy equipment and construct functional solutions in demanding terrain.
JLR Asia Pacific managing director Garth Turnbull said, “Defender Trophy is about more than technical capability; it’s about resilience, teamwork and a shared respect for the environments we explore."
"We are proud to see our Asia-Pacific winners represent the region at the Global Final in Africa. They embody the spirit of adventure and purpose that defines Defender, and we look forward to seeing them compete on the world stage in support of our long-standing conservation partner, Tusk.”
At the centre of the adventure is the expedition-ready Defender 110 Trophy Edition.
The model featured in global celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the original Camel Trophy.
Finished in exclusive Deep Sandglow Yellow, the vehicle pays tribute to that history.
This spirit continues with the arrival of the upgraded Defender line-up.
Updates include revised exterior detailing with new front and rear light signatures, refreshed colour options and new wheel designs.
Meanwhile, official Defender Trophy merchandise can be ordered via selected Defender retailers.
The collection includes performance apparel and expedition gear inspired by the competition, alongside practical travel accessories and limited-edition model vehicles.
Selected items, including rhino and lion soft toys, support Tusk conservation initiatives.
Also, the 2026 Land Rover Defender facelift (FL) is now open for booking in Malaysia.
Inside, refinement is elevated with a larger 13.1-inch touchscreen and contrasting centre seat finishes, while the exterior stands out with new core paint colours such as Woolstone Green and Borasco Grey, complemented by flushed darkened taillights.
Capability has also been enhanced with Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control and a driver attention monitor featuring a driver-facing camera.
